$15.00 GA

Share This Event

If there’s one attribute that distinguishes the new school rappers from generations past it’s unrelenting honesty. And Los Angeles native Tyler Thomas has plenty of it. With unabashed bars that detail his everyday life, Tyler is on a mission to bring you the truth – whether you’re ready to hear it or not. As he delivers his latest project Higher Learning, Tyler Thomas is ready to open some minds. Class is in session.

L.A. has a solid foundation of Hip-Hop, but it wasn’t local talent that raised Tyler. Fed a healthy diet of Andre 3000, the Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, Big Pun, and even Erykah Badu and Sade, Tyler’s tastes spanned all corners of the game with hints of solid Soul. It’s reflected in his music. “Everybody thinks I’m from New York by how I rap,” the 22-year-old says. “My mom and all of her aunts and uncles are from Brooklyn. Maybe that’s why. I don’t know; I just like the flow of the East Coast. The bounce. The cadences. It was always more appealing to me.”

Tyler’s early days were spent writing bars for fun in high school, where his extracurricular activities included football and writing rhymes. “High school is when I started messing around with rapping,” he says. “My friends and I used to just play around and kicking freestyles and cyphers even in the courtyard at lunch or at parties,” he recalls. “They always made me rap!” He joined a group called BLCKNMLD and the fame bug bit him when he stood on a stage at UCLA to perform and saw the crowd going wild. “People went nuts for us. I was having a great time. At that moment I knew I had to do this,” Tyler says. It hit him that this could be a full-time dream if he wanted it to be. Tyler parted ways with BLCKNMLD and focused on a solo career. He began honing his craft, showing and proving in the local scene by way of small shows and events. Slowly but surely the word spread, and Tyler knew the time had arrived to start some serious recording. He dropped the street single “Whiskey On The Rocks” with James Broido. “I had no idea it was going to do anything to be honest,” he says. “It was just me solo dolo trying to figure out what to do.”

The track ignited on the internet and reached the camp of super-producer No I.D. Thomas was invited to the studio where he recorded his debut mixtape ’95 Til in 2012, complete with a title track that showcased Tyler’s strong lyricism and knack for melding genres. “It was really just me rapping,” he explains, “and people seemed to like it a lot.”

As his buzz grew, so did the demand for more music. His recent project Higher Learning is perhaps his breakout work, fueled by a variety of topics and sounds, making the result one cohesive yet diverse project. The opener “You Need It” takes on a soulful spoken word angle while tracks like “Miracle,” “Lost And Jealous,” and “9th Inning” aim that anthemic cinematic sound. “Swing My Way” borrows a sped up then slowed sample from the classic dance track of the same name by K.P. and Envyi. “Twerk Sumn” brings lyrical trap rap, while “Like A MF” takes it back to the boom bap. Joints like “Hellen” and “Late Night” are super mellow, while “Drunk Text” and “”Late Night” bring a melodic balance. His torch single “I Got This” with Logic is making its rounds, with a sepia-toned video in tow. The notion that there’s “something for everybody” on Higher Learning might seem trite, but for the first time in a long time it rings true.

While he’s fresh off a college tour after sharing stages with the likes of Pusha T, Action Bronson, and Black Hippy [Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q] from Cali to Miami, Tyler Thomas is ready for whatever’s next. “I’m just gonna keep pushing,” he says. “I want to be known as someone who brought meaningful music to the world. We’ll see what happens.”

Tyler is currently active performing, honing his live show skills and preparing for an upcoming college tour. He has opened for Pusha T, Schoolboy Q, and Action Bronson at the Key Club in Los Angeles and Pusha T, again in Miami at Grand Central. “It’s gaining momentum,” Tyler says. ”My ultimate goal is to reach ultimate stardom. I want to compete with the top artists in the business and be a crossover artist. Furthermore, I want to keep a loyal fan base my entire career and be so versatile that I am never put in a box.

New artists like Bryson Tiller, Alessia Cara and Leon Bridges have delivered solid R&B projects in recent months, proving the genre has evolved from the bold sounds of yesterday to a whole new world of different grooves and harmonies. SMSHNG HRTS is the latest group to showcase their own flavor.

Their new single, "Do You Think About Me," is an introduction to their sonic experience, which blends electronica, soul and alternative rock to create a lasting impression on the ears. "I wonder do you think about me, I wonder if you care about me / 'Cause I still think about you," lead singer Dylan delivers on the mellow groove.

For the accompanying visual, the Oakland, Calif.-bred band head to the studio to perform the song live. The video isn't full of trippy moments or colorful scenes; instead, you're focused on the simple joys of the music being created.

Ranging in age from 17 to 20, the group is comprised of Jaden on bass, Martin on drums, Cole on guitar, Ali as DJ and Dylan as lead singer, guitarist and pianist. They may be a bunch of youngins, but the performance above proves that their rough edges only adds to their charm.

Read More: SMSHNG HRTS Offer a Different Kind of Groove in 'Do You Think About Me' Video | http://theboombox.com/smshng-hrts-do-you-think-about-me-video/?trackback=tsmclip